luv2blab

For me...a bunch of things.... I stopped allowing myself to be photographed, didn't want to see. Couldn't fit on a harness/strap in ride at Great Adventure,was humiliating. Able to eat a medium extra cheese pepperoni pizza all by myself. A snack, became a whole bag or box of chips or cookies + 2 liter soda. I lost interest in sex and felt embarassed for my hubby to be seen w/me. I started buying a size 30/32.....my biggest ever. I was getting close to 300 on the scale....289 my biggest ever. Sciattica had gotten worse coming on more often. I stopped taking diet pills. I stopped going out with my girl friends. I started anti-depressants. etc etc etc...and this is why I look forward to my new bander life!

I am on 2 daily meds. 1 small pill and one medium sized capsule. I cannot not take these. I asked the surgeon today about it. He said crush or use liquid when I can. So I asked the nurse. She said cut the pills up as small as you can get them with a pill cutter and open the capsules to mix with applesauce or pudding. How are all of you post-banders doing with this issue? I cannot imagine not being able to swallow a pill. Just how small is the hole it has to pass thru? I also take seasonal sinus pills as needed. Just wondering if this will always be a problem for me.

Had my 3'rd fill on Thursday. I'm at 2.6cc now. I've lost 35 pounds since surgery on 2-13-07. PBing and gagging up like after each fill. Hard to find things to eat after fills...I get really hungry. Well, still have no regrets about the surgery. Feeling good about my lifestyle change. Good luck to everyone....take care.

Had my 3'rd fill on Thursday. I'm at 2.6cc now. I've lost 35 pounds since surgery on 2-13-07. PBing and gagging up like after each fill. Hard to find things to eat after fills...I get really hungry. Well, still have no regrets about the surgery. Feeling good about my lifestyle change. Good luck to everyone....take care.

Just wondering....how long before you can sit upright without feeling tight/pain/nausea? I feel better walking or lying down. If I sit up to long, bent in the middle, my chest and stomach feels so cramped. I'm supposed to go back to work this Friday.

Hey...no one added me yet. : ( Feb 13

I did a slimfast diet for 2 weeks before surgery....lost 10 pounds. Banded on Feb 13, 2007. 2 fills since and I've lost only another 19 pounds. I have my 3'rd fill tomorrow. Considering I used to be able to eat a whole large pie myself and ate other supersize meals....I feel I have completely changed my diet since banding. I eat more fruit, veggies, salad, soup, multigrain cereals and protein bars etc. Not at all the amount I used to eat. I don't eat any baked goods, breads, or pasta. I just feel deprived sometimes from my old favorite foods and wish the weight would come off faster so it would keep my spirits and determination up.

I am 2 months since surgery. I have had the insides of a mexican pizza at taco bell. I've had a salad at McD's. I've had a baked potato and chili at wendys. I've had clam chowder soup at Friendlys. No, burgers and fries are out. So are breads, donuts, etc. No more fast food junk for banders...if they are following a diet and have good restriction that is.

Have my 2'nd fill on Thursday April 12'th. Wow...I am restricted alright! I think I need to be emptied a little actually. I have slimed at least once a day since Thursday. I'm having a hard time getting things down with chestpain. Solids that is. Even cereal too. Shakes, grits, yogurt, icecream all go down fine. I guess I've caused some irritation with gagging and maybe I'm still swollen but if this continues throughout the week I'm going to call to have some taken out. I'm at 2.2 right now. The weight loss have been very slow....it discouraging really. I've only lost an additional 3 pounds in 3 weeks. 25 pounds loss in all so far. Well, at least I haven't gained.

Have my 2'nd fill on Thursday April 12'th. Wow...I am restricted alright! I think I need to be emptied a little actually. I have slimed at least once a day since Thursday. I'm having a hard time getting things down with chestpain. Solids that is. Even cereal too. Shakes, grits, yogurt, icecream all go down fine. I guess I've caused some irritation with gagging and maybe I'm still swollen but if this continues throughout the week I'm going to call to have some taken out. I'm at 2.2 right now. The weight loss have been very slow....it discouraging really. I've only lost an additional 3 pounds in 3 weeks. 25 pounds loss in all so far. Well, at least I haven't gained.

Looking forward to a few more fills. Guess I'm impatient but I really wanted to lose faster.

Told doc that I've been in the "banders hell"....dieting to hold my weight loss but haven't lost any more weight. He put in a 1.8 fill. Gotta agree with you...I don't feel any different either. I'm so bummed out. He told me to come back in 4-6 weeks. I can't wait that long! It's hard going thru everything we have and feeling so unsuccessful already. Maybe I'm being impatient?

*LUNCH/DINNER-Baked ricotta-Marinara sauce-shredded motzarella sprinkled on top *LUNCH/DINNER-Parm flavor Cocous mixed with cream spinach *BREAKFAST-Instant grits mixed with vanilla flavor granola (it will soften up) *SNACK-2 scoops frozen vanilla yogurt with flat diet birch beer soda poured on top *LUNCH/DINNER-Taco Bell Mexican pizza....open up and eat the inside only...yum *LUNCH/DINNER-Chinese take out.....chicken rice Soup...the rice is really mushy *ANY MEAL-at IHOP...spinach + mushroom omlette with holindaise sauce on top I was ok'd to start solids next Thursday....but I've been eating well and haven't felt deprived. I've lost 24 pounds since Feb 1'st. Chew well and take small spoon fulls at a time. Be creative...see what you can come up with.

One of my girlfriends, who happens to be 5 months pregnant, and I went shopping and out to eat tonight. She loves IHOP. So, after looking over the menu...nothing on kids that I could have, I ordered the spinach and mushroom omlette with holondaise sauce on top, and told them to keep the 3 pancakes that came with it. It was GREAT....I ate slow...chewed my food. It had diced tomatoes and cheese in it as well. Very tasty and went down well. I only had to eat 1/3 of it before feeling full and pushing it to the side. My girlfriend, who loves food as much as I do, and is a BBW herself, was astonished that I was full. She has been witness to my enormous appetite over the years and watched me put away alot of food in one sitting. She said she is so glad I'd done this for myself.....so am I. Banded 2-13-07

This is neat....good inspiration

There is SO much information available to you online, do as much research as you can. This site for instance is GREAT!

http://www.drthin.com/scrapbook1.htm If that link doesn't work, try this one. You'll see Dr.Wasser in pictures and read about the support group.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+reviews+Samuel+Wasser+kjh.html Here is my surgeon. I was banded on 2-13-07 and I'm doing GREAT! I'll be attending my first group support meeting with him on Mon night. Good luck in your journey!

6 months from 1'st required appt to insurance approval. Slim Fast Shake/protein bar diet started 2-1-07. Banded 2-13-07 (10cc)/weight loss=total -11 pounds. Worst pain days only last about 3-4 days. Back to work 2-23-07. Started mushies 2-27-07. Appt with surgeon 3-1-07/weight loss=another -10 pounds. First mandatory group support meeting 3-5-07. Ok'd to start solids 3-13-07. First fill scheduled 3-26-07. Good luck to those pre-ops out there......YES, all the "suffering" is worth the outcome! I feel good. I'm getting used to my new way of eating. I have been able to wear a few items of clothing that were too tight before. My energy level is good. I am back to do all the household chores and I can get thru work fine. I am able to pass up all kinds of junkfood at work that I used to gorge myself on.

6 months from 1'st required appt to insurance approval. Slim Fast Shake/protein bar diet started 2-1-07. Banded 2-13-07 (10cc)/weight loss=total -11 pounds. Worst pain days only last about 3-4 days. Back to work 2-23-07. Started mushies 2-27-07. Appt with surgeon 3-1-07/weight loss=another -10 pounds. First mandatory group support meeting 3-5-07. Ok'd to start solids 3-13-07. First fill scheduled 3-26-07. Good luck to those pre-ops out there......YES, all the "suffering" is worth the outcome! I feel good. I'm getting used to my new way of eating. I have been able to wear a few items of clothing that were too tight before. My energy level is good. I am back to do all the household chores and I can get thru work fine. I am able to pass up all kinds of junkfood at work that I used to gorge myself on.

6 months from 1'st required appt to insurance approval. Slim Fast Shake/protein bar diet started 2-1-07. Banded 2-13-07 (10cc)/weight loss=total -11 pounds. Worst pain days only last about 3-4 days. Back to work 2-23-07. Started mushies 2-27-07. Appt with surgeon 3-1-07/weight loss=another -10 pounds. First mandatory group support meeting 3-5-07. Ok'd to start solids 3-13-07. First fill scheduled 3-26-07. Good luck to those pre-ops out there......YES, all the "suffering" is worth the outcome!

As of this weekend...I can sleep on either side again....sleeping much better now! Only have a little pain my largest incision, the one under my right boob... sort of a stretch/pull kind of pain..and only that one is tender to touch and still swollen. Healing up well. Last night for dinner, I made myself baked ricotta with marinara sauce, and motz cheese sprinkled on top. OMG....it was great...I really needed to taste some yummy Italian food. I have been wanting pizza so bad ever since I had surgery....but I know it's a no no. Love to have instant grits in the morning with a half shake. Love to have soup or fruit with yogurt for lunch. Dinner's have been trial and error...but going well. My clothes fit better....not sure on my actual weight loss until I go to the surgeon on Thursday. Energy level is better than I ever expected...I was able to get back into all the housework by this weekend. Feeling fine at work...careful as to what I lift and I am to step aside for now if a patient freaks out, elopes, or needs CPR. My co-workers are looking out for me. The hubby is a little more attention now...he wouldn't want you to think that but...I can tell. His hugs are all incompassing and more often. I'm enjoying comments from people who weren't told of my surgery. They compliment my hair or makeup. Their not sure what's different about me. Well, for those pre-ops and those who recently had surgery....keep your chin up. Everything you're doing is going to be well worth it. Take care! Banded Feb 13'th, 2007

ManEater BingBangBOOM DarkShadow LeadFoot ShaZam GonnaGitYa MoveItOrLoseIt EatMyDust HotToTrot WannaRumble RoughAndTumble SpinCycle ReadyToRoll

I went back yesterday on my 9'th day post-op after using vacation time. I planned on taking it easy but I actually felt really good all day. I had told co-workers about my surgery beforehand so many were asking how I felt and some wanted more details than others. Many expected me to be sitting down and taking it easy or not running around like my normal self. Many asked, aren't you in pain? Honestly, I was in pain and miserable the first 3-4 days but each day after has gotten better. I was surprised to have a few staff, who work on the other side of the hospital, who I never really talked to before...start a conversation with me. I got a few compliments on my hair looking nice, and a couple staff asked me if I'd gotten my hair cut or colored? These being the staff who were unaware of my surgery....so I just thanked them and didn't offer any info. My husband says that this is because I have lost a little weight and that my face looks different...so people wonder why I look different and think it's a new haircut or something. I also noticed that my female co-workers in particular are very attentive to what I eat, drink, and chew....lol. Some comment that I bearly eat enough to walk upright. Some ask, aren't you starving? Some just watch....and I'm aware of it. Some I've noticed eat less of their lunch and I noticed more salads around the lunch table today. Maybe my having surgery will have a positive effect on others eating habits. I don't know, I thought as I drove home from work tonight.....maybe I shouldn't have told anyone?

I went back yesterday on my 9'th day post-op after using vacation time. I planned on taking it easy but I actually felt really good all day. I had told co-workers about my surgery beforehand so many were asking how I felt and some wanted more details than others. Many expected me to be sitting down and taking it easy or not running around like my normal self. Many asked, aren't you in pain? Honestly, I was in pain and miserable the first 3-4 days but each day after has gotten better. I was surprised to have a few staff, who work on the other side of the hospital, who I never really talked to before...start a conversation with me. I got a few compliments on my hair looking nice, and a couple staff asked me if I'd gotten my hair cut or colored? These being the staff who were unaware of my surgery....so I just thanked them and didn't offer any info. My husband says that this is because I have lost a little weight and that my face looks different...so people wonder why I look different and think it's a new haircut or something. I also noticed that my female co-workers in particular are very attentive to what I eat, drink, and chew....lol. Some comment that I bearly eat enough to walk upright. Some ask, aren't you starving? Some just watch....and I'm aware of it. Some I've noticed eat less of their lunch and I noticed more salads around the lunch table today. Maybe my having surgery will have a positive effect on others eating habits. I don't know, I thought as I drove home from work tonight.....maybe I shouldn't have told anyone?